My husband and I recently escaped for a Napa getaway weekend. We both grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. And the wine country — both Napa Valley and Sonoma — have long been one of favorite spots to visit. In fact, we were married there at the Meadowood Resort!
Our Napa Getaway
This time, we went to celebrate the birthday of one of our dearest friends. It was the prefect spring weekend. The sun was shining, and the hills and valleys were covered in neon green grass and bright yellow mustard flowers.
Our first stop was Bouchon Bistro in Yountville where we had a late lunch/snack of charcuterie and rillettes aux deux saumons. And of course, some wine!
The Poetry Inn
Next, we checked into the Poetry Inn, a luxury 5-bedroom hotel that’s the perfect spot for a Napa getaway. It had been a few years since we stayed there but this private, little inn has lost none of it’s charm! And even though it barely escaped the Napa fires last year, the burn areas on the hills around the hotel were barely noticeable under all the spring growth.
We stayed on the top floor in a gorgeous room: the Robert Louis Stevenson suite. Like all the rooms at the Poetry Inn, ours has an incredible view overlooking the Stag’s Leap district. We also had a deck, an outdoor shower and a fireplace in the sitting room.
While the Poetry Inn does not have a restaurant, the will bring you a cheese plate at cocktail hour. And they provide a gourmet, three-course breakfast every morning. You can enjoy your morning meal in the main area or in the privacy of your own room, which is what we did. I mean, is there anything bette than breakfast in bed?!
The French Laundry
Our adventure also included an over-the-top wine-filled lunch at The French Laundry. We went to celebrate our friend’s birthday. And while the four of us had been there before, it’s been years. We were so excited to return and to check out the restaurant’s 4-year, $10 million remodel! And (as you can imagine) it did not disappoint!
Although everything one of the 9 courses was incredible, my favorites included the “Liver and Onion” duck foie gras, the “Chateaubriand of Durham Ranch” bison, and the off-menu birthday cake (thank you French Laundry!). I also have to say, the service we received at the French Laundry (and at Per Se last Fall), was flawless.
After the meal was over, we also had the opportunity to tour the new kitchen with it’s new wrap-around windows overlooking the inner courtyard. Another cool feature is the live stream to the kitchen of the New York-based Per Se.
It was hard to pack up and head home after such a fun weekend! But my jeans were feeling a bit snug and real life was calling! Of course, we made two more stops before we left town: Bouchon Bakery and Dean and Delucca. And our friends? They might have also hit up Gott’s Roadside (neé Taylor’s Refresher).
Looking for more ideas on where to travel in California? Read about our Big Sur trip here.